Tom O' Brien, author and playwright

SONG OF AMERGIN

When the Milesians conquered Ireland, c 1000 bc, Amergin invokes the powers of the Land here upon first stepping ashore in Ireland. These words came from Amergin’s “imbas” (‘poetic inspiration’) and they marked the start of battle over sovereignty of the Land. With the words of this poem, Amergin claims the elements of Ireland. This gesture displays his Otherworldly wisdom and power over the elements. Here, he is actually “becoming”… all of these elements, or “duile” as they were called by the Druids. He joins himself (his “Fein” and internal “duile”) with the spirit that controls the elements of the Cosmos. This could be looked upon as merely symbolic, but however you wish to see it, it got results. The wind died down and the Gaels claimed sovereignty on Ireland .

SONG OF AMERGIN

I am a stag of seven tines,
I am a wide flood on a plain,
I am a wind on the deep waters,
I am a shining tear of the sun,
I am a hawk on a cliff,
I am fair among flowers,
I am a god who sets the head afire with smoke.
I am a battle waging spear,
I am a salmon in the pool,
I am a hill of poetry,
I am a ruthless boar,
I am a threatening noise of the sea,
I am a wave of the sea,
Who but I knows the secrets of the unhewn dolmen ?